Bangladesh Dengue: Bangladesh is witnessing a rapid increase in dengue cases and fatalities, with health experts warning that August could bring a more severe outbreak if immediate action is not taken. While Dhaka remains a major hotspot, infections are also surging in rural areas.
According to official data, 101 people have died and 24,183 have been infected so far this year, putting intense strain on the country’s already overburdened healthcare system. Nineteen people have died in August alone, following 41 deaths in July, more than double the fatalities recorded in June.
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“The situation is critical. The virus is already widespread across the country, and without aggressive intervention, hospitals will be overwhelmed,” said Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, news agency Reuters reported. He cautioned that cases in August could triple compared to July, with numbers possibly peaking in September.
Health authorities are urging the public to use mosquito repellents, sleep under nets, and remove stagnant water where Aedes mosquitoes, the carriers of the dengue virus, breed. High-risk zones have called for coordinated spraying and community clean-up drives.
Climate change, warm humid conditions, and intermittent rainfall have created ideal breeding grounds for the mosquitoes. Doctors have stressed the importance of seeking early medical care for symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, or extreme fatigue to reduce complications and deaths.
In 2023, Bangladesh recorded 1,705 deaths and more than 321,000 dengue infections, making it the deadliest year on record.
